Table for Seven

Ben lives only a couple blocks from the waterfront, and we prioritized a jog or walk along the brick boardwalk every single day the sun was out this week. 

It is so gorgeous and calm, with the swanky dockside apartments and highrises on one side and the endless little harbors filled with speedboats, sailboats, yachts, rowboats on the other...seriously, it seems like every person in Baltimore with a slightly significant amount of money owns their own boat. 

I would love to live by the water someday; there is something special about the air of the seaside although a lake or river would definitely be good enough. 

Ben and I have pipe dreams revolving around owning our own huge sleek yacht and sailing around the world. 

(Although it would have to run on used cooking oil or something that wouldn't pollute the water or else I would feel too guilty. !!)

The bottom picture is our favorite yacht that we picked out. I think it nicely balances sleek and classy with plenty of sun-bathing deckspace and maybe enough room for dinner on the water. Yup those are all my priorities. Perfect.

Whole Wheat Zucchini Bread

Zucchini bread + a citrus rainbow is deliciously the way to go

I will be so sad when break is over!! I need another week!

Whole Wheat Zucchini Bread

-2 peeled and shredded zucchini

-2 eggs

-3 T vegetable or canola oil

-1 t. vanilla

-3/4 c. brown sugar

-3/4 c. whole wheat flour

-3/4 c. all purpose flour

-3/4 t. salt

-1 t. baking soda

-1/4 t. baking powder

-1 t. cinnamon

-1/4 t ground cloves, or any other spices you like (nutmeg, ginger??)

-1/4 c. chopped nuts if your boyfriend isn't a hater.

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 350*. Spray or grease a loaf pan.

Whisk together eggs, oil, sugar, vanilla, and zucchini

In a separate bowl stir together the flours, salt, baking soda, powder, cinnamon, spices, and nuts

Add the zucchini mixture to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.

Pour the batter into the pan and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Cool in the pan, slice, and enjoy!

Leftover bread is really good toasted.

Fort McHenry

view of the Chesapeake Bay where the British navy attacked

Over the weekend Ben and I unleashed our inner touristy history-buff selves (well my inner self, Ben's normal self) and went to the other side of the harbor to visit Fort McHenry, (now a national monument) where the Americans successfully defended the city against the British warships during the Battle of Baltimore in 1814.  Francis Scott Key was a prisoner on a ship in the bay and was inspired to write The Star Spangled Banner after his experiences on that night.

It is impossible not to have the national anthem stuck in your head as you wander around this place! (which gets kind of annoying if you personally had to play it 59384 times in high school marching band)

The fort is star-shaped and has multiple levels, all made of brick and grass embankments with random arched doorways leading down into the ammunition storage rooms and other technically-termed places; it kind of feels like a labyrinth when you walk around.  You can definitely envision the uniformed soldiers marching through their drills.

It was definitely a fun mini-trip for a sunny afternoon. I recommend stopping by if you're in the city!